Israeli Scientists' Protein Discovery
May Lead to Simple Mad-Cow Test

Israeli scientists say they have discovered rogue proteins believed to cause mad-cow disease in the urine of animals and humans, a breakthrough that could pave the way for a simple diagnostic test.

Researchers have long sought such a test. Currently, people are diagnosed with the long-incubating illness only after symptoms appear, and usually after death. In Britain, about 100 people have died from a human version of the affliction,...